In a similar vein, reports have indicated that 34 canteens in Brikama Market were gutted with fire on Wednesday night. The affected canteens were reported to be located behind the newly constructed building opposite Sonko Jileng building near Brikama-Gunjur junction.

According to one Bubacarr Sillah, chairman of market vendors’ committee, the fire started at about 3:00 a.m. but he arrived at the scene around 3:30 a.m. and met some officials from The Gambia Fire and Rescue Service at the scene trying to put the inferno under control, with some police officers equally deployed.

Mr. Sillah said most of the canteens were owned by married people with responsibilities and lamented the fact that water hydrant where the Fire Service officials could source water was located at a very distant from the market.

One Modou Bojang, a resident of Farato village and one of the owners of the burnt canteens said he was infomed around 4:00 a.m. that his shop was being consumed by fire and he quickly left for Brikama. Upon his arrival at the shop, he said it was razed down by the inferno.

Mr. Bojang who sells female fashion materials revealed that the materials inside his shop worth more than half a million dalasi.

Another victim, Modou Juldeh Sowe, residing in Marrakisa village disclosed that he lost all he had worked for in his entire life.

Mr. Sowe said he just came from shopping spree and had people’s goods in his canteen.